By Julius Peter, Abuja
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, and the President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Dr Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous, have called for increased investment in weather and climate observation infrastructure across Africa to address critical data gaps, strengthen early-warning systems and protect lives and livelihoods.
The two officials made the call at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Alliance for Hydromet Development, held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, from October 13 to 15, 2026.
They stressed the need for African governments, development partners, financial institutions and private-sector stakeholders to increase funding for meteorological and hydrological services to improve the continent’s capacity to predict and respond to extreme weather events and climate-related disasters.
Speaking while delivering his welcome address, Anosike, who is also Nigeria’s Permanent Representative with the WMO, highlighted the significant gaps in Africa’s weather and climate observation systems, warning that inadequate infrastructure and limited access to reliable data continue to undermine the continent’s preparedness for climate-related risks.
According to him, Africa accounts for approximately 30 per cent of the global weather and climate observation deficit, making it one of the regions most in need of sustained investment in meteorological infrastructure.
He disclosed that the continent has only about 12.5 per cent of the minimum weather station density recommended by the WMO, while compliance rates stand at just seven per cent for surface land stations and nine per cent for upper-air observation stations across 53 African countries.
The NiMet chief executive said the figures highlighted the urgent need to strengthen observation networks and improve the availability, quality and accessibility of weather and climate information across the continent.
He called for increased investment in weather observation infrastructure, remote sensing technologies, data analytics and digital platforms, noting that government funding alone would not be sufficient to address the scale of the challenges confronting Africa’s meteorological sector.
Anosike emphasised the importance of mobilising private-sector resources and expanding public-private partnerships to complement government efforts and accelerate the development of modern weather and climate services.
He explained that reliable meteorological information was essential to national development, particularly in sectors such as aviation, agriculture, maritime transportation and disaster risk management.
According to him, strengthening weather and climate services would enable governments, businesses, farmers and other stakeholders to make informed decisions, minimise risks and improve operational efficiency.
He further stressed the need to translate meteorological information into practical and actionable guidance that could help communities and institutions prepare for impending hazards and respond effectively to emergencies.
Anosike noted that strengthening early-warning systems remained a critical component of efforts to reduce the impact of extreme weather events, safeguard economic activities and protect vulnerable populations.
He maintained that investment in weather and climate services should be regarded as a development priority capable of delivering significant benefits across multiple sectors of the economy.
In his remarks, the WMO President, Dr Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous, called on Nigeria and other African countries to scale up investment in meteorological and hydrological services to strengthen early-warning systems, protect livelihoods and support sustainable economic development.
Al Mandous described the period leading to 2030 as critical to closing existing capacity gaps in weather, water and climate services, urging governments and development partners to take concrete steps towards improving the continent’s preparedness for climate-related challenges.
He emphasised that stronger meteorological and hydrological systems were essential to ensuring that countries could anticipate hazards, communicate risks effectively and take timely action to minimise their consequences.
According to him, addressing Africa’s observation and data gaps requires a coordinated approach involving national governments, international development institutions, financial partners and the private sector.
The WMO president urged stakeholders to prioritise investment, strengthen institutional frameworks, expand partnerships with key economic sectors and promote regional cooperation in the delivery of weather and climate services.
He said the continent must move beyond identifying deficiencies in its meteorological systems to implementing practical measures that would translate assessments into sustainable investments and long-term institutional capacity.
“Our direction is clear: to turn assessments into investments, investments into lasting capacity, and early warnings into early action that saves lives and livelihoods,” Al Mandous said.
He stressed that early-warning systems could only deliver their full benefits when supported by adequate observation infrastructure, reliable data, effective communication channels and the capacity of governments and communities to respond promptly to warnings.
His remarks underscored the importance of ensuring that investments in meteorological infrastructure are matched by institutional reforms, technical expertise and effective mechanisms for delivering timely information to those who need it most.
The WMO president also commended Nigeria for its growing contribution to regional cooperation in weather and climate services, noting that the country had progressed from being a beneficiary of technical support to sharing expertise and experience with other African countries.
He specifically cited Nigeria’s support to Burkina Faso as a peer reviewer under the Country Hydromet Assessment initiative as an example of the country’s increasing role in strengthening regional capacity.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to assess the capacity of countries to provide effective hydrological and meteorological services and identify areas requiring investment and institutional support.
Nigeria’s participation, according to the WMO president, demonstrates the importance of regional collaboration in addressing common challenges associated with weather observation, climate information and disaster preparedness.
The development also highlights the potential for African countries to share technical knowledge, institutional experience and best practices in building stronger and more resilient meteorological systems.
With weather and climate hazards often extending beyond national borders, regional cooperation remains essential to improving forecasting capabilities, exchanging data and coordinating responses to emergencies.
Anosike expressed appreciation to the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, CON, SAN, for their support towards strengthening NiMet’s institutional capacity and operational efficiency.
He acknowledged the importance of sustained government support in enabling the agency to improve its operations and deliver weather and climate information to critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.
NiMet plays an important role in providing meteorological information for aviation safety, agricultural planning, water-resource management, maritime activities and disaster risk reduction.
The agency’s services also support decision-making by public institutions, businesses and communities whose activities are affected by changing weather conditions.
As climate-related risks continue to pose challenges to development planning, the need for modern observation equipment, reliable forecasting systems and effective information dissemination has become increasingly important.
Strengthening NiMet’s institutional and technical capacity is therefore central to improving Nigeria’s ability to anticipate weather-related hazards and support climate-resilient development.
The three-day annual meeting brought together government representatives, development partners, financial institutions and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and identify investment priorities for closing capacity gaps in weather, water and climate services by 2030.
The gathering provided an opportunity for participants to discuss practical approaches to mobilising resources, improving institutional coordination and expanding access to reliable meteorological and hydrological information across Africa.
A major focus of the discussions was the need to bridge the gap between technical assessments of national weather and climate systems and the investments required to improve their performance.
Stakeholders are expected to explore ways of strengthening partnerships between governments, international development organisations and private-sector actors to support the development of sustainable hydrometeorological services.
Such partnerships are considered important in mobilising the financial and technical resources required to expand observation networks, modernise data systems and improve forecasting capabilities.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of ensuring that weather and climate information reaches farmers, aviation operators, maritime stakeholders, emergency management agencies and communities exposed to climate-related hazards.
For agricultural communities, timely weather information can support decisions on planting, harvesting and other farming activities. In aviation, accurate forecasts are essential for flight planning and operational safety, while effective early-warning systems can help communities and emergency agencies prepare for floods, storms and other extreme weather events.
The discussions also reinforced the need to strengthen the links between scientific information, public policy and practical action to ensure that investments in weather and climate services produce measurable benefits.
As the 2030 target approaches, the challenge for African countries will be to turn commitments into sustained financing, improved infrastructure and stronger institutional capacity.
The calls by Anosike and Al Mandous therefore place renewed emphasis on the need for African governments and their development partners to treat weather and climate services as essential components of economic planning, disaster preparedness and sustainable development.
Their message was clear: closing Africa’s weather and climate data gaps will require stronger investment, effective partnerships and regional cooperation to ensure that reliable information translates into timely action that saves lives, protects livelihoods and strengthens resilience across the continent.
